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The Brisbane Festival which opened last night and runs until runs until 26th September will reconnect communities with the arts and provide employment opportunities for over 700 Queensland artists and arts workers, boosting the state’s plan for economic recovery.  

The Festival’s line up will feature local artists offering more than 490 performances across 91 events in a COVID-safe environment, including surprise events and pop-up Street Serenades that will take place in neighbourhoods across Brisbane.  

Audiences can experience exciting music performances by Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Camerata, Australian Voices and award-winning pop duo Busby Marou, along with dance from BlakDance and the Australasian Dance Collective.

Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch advised “Queenslanders have done a fantastic job in responding to COVID-19 and our continued health response means that we can enjoy events like the Brisbane Festival.

“Throughout the impacts of COVID-19, the arts sector has continued to innovate and share their work with Queenslanders, uplifting and supporting them during this time,”  

“Now, through Brisbane Festival we can return the favour and support artists by booking tickets to shows and filling their audiences.”

Brisbane Festival opened with Jumoo, featuring smoking ceremonies at South Bank and Roma Street Parkland as well as the inaugural Sunsuper Night Sky, a free light and sound installation that will play across the skyline of Brisbane every Friday and Saturday night.  

Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said that the Festival would deliver a joyous and mostly free program to ease the challenges that people have experienced over the past few months.

Other Brisbane-based companies including Circa and Metro Arts will also present and host shows throughout the duration of the Festival.  

World premieres Snapshot, combining the talents of more than 100 local artists, dance work Silence and cabaret performance Hot Mess Mama, are the first productions from the Queensland Government’s Working Title initiative, which invested funding of $220,000 and in-kind venue hire at the Judith Wright Arts Centre to develop brand new Queensland work.

The Queensland Government has delivered more than $42.5 million to support the arts and cultural sector through COVID-19. This includes a $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package announced as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.

For more information on the Brisbane Festival go to  https://www.brisbanefestival.com.au/.

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